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Volunteer Charlene King (right) suggests a book during the annual Christmas Bureau Distribution at the Oncenter Monday, Dec. 22, 2014.
(Michelle Gabel | mgabel@syracuse.com | File photo, 2014)
Do you have a little extra time for a good cause this holiday season?
Many Central New York non-profit agencies and groups are looking for some volunteers to help them out this holiday season. (And often year around if the holidays are too busy.)
The United Way of Central New York has compiled its 2015 Holiday Volunteer Guide that lists many of these opportunities.
Agency Mission:
ACR Health is a human services provider committed to eliminating health disparities and inequality throughout the Central New York, the North Country and the Mohawk Valley.
Holiday opportunities
Holiday Angel: Sponsor clients and their families during the holiday season. ACR Health relies on volunteers to donate needed items which are assembled into gift packages for those in need. Donations can include things like warm clothing, blankets and cash for ACR to purchase more family-specific items. Consider sponsoring a family with a team of employees, or in place of gift exchanges.
When: Ongoing until January
Where: Items collected at any ACR Health Office
Contact: events@ACRHealth.org
Holiday Angel Delivery Team: A few volunteers with access to cars are needed to deliver some of the Holiday Angel gift packages, particularly in the Oswego and Auburn areas.
When: December
Where: Delivery from 627 W. Genesee office
Contact: volunteer@ACRHealth.org
Year-around opportunities
Large-Scale Event Volunteers: ACR hosts six large fundraisers annually, including walk/runs and a sledding competition. More than 100 volunteers are needed at each event. Positions include lining the course route, serving as a photographer, aiding in set-up and clean-up, and many more things.
When: Next event is the Sled for Red on Feb.6.
Contact: volunteer@ACRHealth.org
Agency Mission:
The Salvation Army of the Syracuse Area is dedicated to meeting human needs without discrimination.
Holiday opportunities
Christmas Bureau Volunteers: The Salvation Army joins forces with hundreds of community groups and thousands of volunteers to help low-income families through the Christmas Bureau.
Registration Days: Volunteers are needed to help register families.
When: Registration will be held Dec. 1 to 15.
Set up days: Volunteers will help sort build and stage gifts for distribution day.
When: Dec. 21 and 22
Distribution day: Assist in providing toys, books, and food basket for needy families in Onondaga County
When: Wednesday, Dec. 23
Where: OnCenter, 800 S. State St., Syracuse
Contact: Andrew Sabbaghzadeh (315) 434-1395 or email at andrew.sabbaghzadeh@use.salvationarmy.org
Agency Mission:
The American Red Cross Western and Central New York helps people in emergencies such as home fires, winter storms and flooding.
Holiday opportunities
Disaster Responder: Responders are needed to help individuals and families affected disasters to assist with emergency needs such as shelter, food, clothing, health and mental health help. All disaster responders are provided with free training.
Home Fire Preparedness Campaign Volunteer: The Red Cross seeks to decrease fire-related deaths by 25 percent in the next five years. Volunteers are needed to install smoke alarms in homes and educate families how to be prepared in case of a fire or other emergency.
Pillowcase Project Instructor: Individuals will educate students (grades 3-5) in the local community about how to be prepared for emergencies. In the Pillowcase Project, students receive a pillowcase on which they can color, and are instructed how to pack emergency items in their pillowcase "emergency kit."
Citizen Preparedness Corps Instructor: Instructors will teach citizen preparedness, or disaster preparedness.
Volunteers will receive training in order to work with businesses, civic groups, and other various organizations to present a 1-hour program.
Contact: Julie Mucilli (315) 234-2217 or email Julie.Mucilli@redcross.org
Agency Mission:
The mission of Citizen Advocacy is to promote the protection of, and advocacy for people who are mentally or physically disabled.
Holiday opportunities
Holiday Gift Wrap: Volunteers needed to wrap presents to raise money.
Where: Shoppingtown Mall
When: Dec. 13 to Dec. 24
Times: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday
Year-around opportunities
Becoming an Advocate: Volunteer to advoated for developmentally disabled in Onondaga County
When: Ongoing
Working Concession stand at the Dome: Volunteers needed for Men's Basketball, Luke Bryant Concert and Monster Jam
When: Follows SU Men's Basketball schedule in January and February.
Contact: 472-9190 ext: 104
Agency Mission:
To help children reach their potential through professionally supported one-to-one relationships with mentors.
Year-around opportunities
Traditional, or community-based mentoring: Big Brothers Big Sisters matches a child between the ages of 6-12 with an adult Big Brother or Sister for one-to-one relationships that provide friendship, build trust.
Contact: Oscar Vergara at 470-3369 or email overgara@peace-caa.org
Agency Mission:
The Syracuse Northeast Community Center works with residents to provide services and programs that address the changing needs and interests of the city's north/northeast neighborhoods.
Holiday Volunteer Opportunity
Giving Tree Project: Companies or individuals can sponsor a family or child for Christmas. The center collects information such as age, sex, and sizes of children and other family members, without revealing the identity of participants. Sponsors will receive this information and purchase gifts for the family members or individuals to be delivered to the Northeast Community Center for distribution to the families.
Contact: Katie Stager at 472-6343 ext. or kstager@snccsyr.org
Year-around opportunities
Basic Needs Pantry: This program offers families and individuals experiencing hunger, current or imminent homelessness, or other crises access to food, personal items, clothing, and referrals. Center also needs volunteers to organize food, unload deliveries, and help with general facility maintenance.
Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Contact: Lexie Kwiek at 472-6343 ext. 215 or lkwiek@snccsyr.org
Agency Mission:
InterFaith Works works with the different faith communities and the diversity of the region's people to address deeply embedded social divisions and to find common ground on issues.
Holiday opportunities
First Holiday Season: InterFaith Works will provide names of family members, ages, (boy or girl), addresses, and the country that the family has been resettled from so volunteers can deliver gifts to the family at their convenience.
Youth Coat Drive: When a new family arrives during the fall and winter months, InterFaith Works welcome them at the airport with new friendships and warm coats. It's cold outside, and most refugees have never experienced winters like those here. Needed: Coats for toddlers, all school-age youths, boys and girls. The coats can be new or gently used, but they need to be clean, no stains, no holes, no tears please.
Contact: Daryl Files at 449-3552 ext. 208 or email: dfiles@interfaithworkscny.org
Agency Mission:
Meals on Wheels of Syracuse organizes, plans and administers the delivery of well-balanced, nutritious meals at the lowest possible cost to recipients. Meals are provided to those who are unable to plan, shop or prepare such meals due to illness, disability or advanced age.
Holiday opportunities
Holiday Delivery Drivers: Deliver prepared meals to homebound clients before and after the holidays. Car, valid driver's license and proof of insurance are required. Volunteer drivers can work alone or with a partner. Individual servers are also needed to deliver meals for some drivers from the vehicles to the clients' door. Meals are delivered weekdays between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. A full orientation and training are provided. Volunteers needed in every Syracuse neighborhood.
Holiday Kitchen Volunteers: Help prepare and package meals for homebound clients before and after the holidays.. A full orientation and training are provided. Volunteers needed in every Syracuse neighborhood.
Year-around opportunities
Food Service Volunteers: No food service experience is needed; professional staff will guide you. Volunteers should enjoy working in teams and have a desire to help senior citizens in the Syracuse community.
Hours: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Monday to Friday; 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursdays.
Location: 300 Burt Street, Syracuse.
Delivery Volunteer: You'll need a friendly disposition, ability to work independently, a state issued driver's license, automobile, and automobile insurance.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Location: 300 Burt Street, Syracuse.
Office Volunteer: You'll need a friendly disposition and an ability to work independently. Ability to answer phones, file correctly, use various email and standard business software are a plus.
Days: Monday to Friday.
Location: 300 Burt Street, Syracuse.
Contact: Michael Watrous, 478-5948 extension 213 or volunteer@meals.org
Agency Mission:
To provide lodging, transportation, meals and comfort to patients and families of patients receiving medical care in Central New York.
Year-around opportunities
Meal Preparation: During the holiday season and all year long it is especially comforting to the guests to have a home cooked meal (prepared in your home or ours). Sarah's Guest House is also looking for volunteers to provide rides to and from the hospitals, to assist with clerical work and also help with property maintenance.
Where: Sarah's Guest House, 100 Roberts Ave., Syracuse
Contact: 475-1747